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Summary

Strand Mill was originally built in the earlier 18th century. It was rebuilt in 1825 and presumably again after a fire in 1910. It has a 30ft diameter, cast iron, pitchback waterwheel which drove two pairs of stones. The mill, which ran until 1959, is now a tea room with much of the machinery surviving intact including two unusual cast iron millstone standards. The waterwheel has been restored.

Location

Protected Status

• Listed Building (II) 1096687: TORBAY MILLS

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 447654
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX97NE/2
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SX97NE5

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• WATERMILL (Built, XVIII to Late 20th Century - 1701 AD (Between) to 2000 AD (Between))

Full description

Minchinton, W., 1973, Industrial Archaeology in Devon, 2 (Monograph). SDV362710.

Strand Mill. A cast iron pitchback waterwheel. Of late construction. It was built by A. Bodley of Exeter. It can only be viewed from The Strand.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1978, SX97NE5 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV304718.

A 30ft cast iron pitchback waterwheel. Of late construction, built by A. Bodley of Exeter (citing Minchinton 1976).

Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, 1982, Mills Index (Un-published). SDV12998.

Mill derelict.

Swete, J. (ed. Gray T. + Rowe, M.), 1998, Travels in Georgian Devon. The Illustrated Journals of the Reverend John Swete. Vol. 2, 175-7 (Monograph). SDV341167.

Revd. Swete describes the mill as picturesque. He states that it is an over shot, mill 'and the stream' he says, 'falling over a ledge of gravel ere it comes to the wheel, forms a little cascade which gives somewhat of a romantic air to the scene'. The accompanying two sketches, dated 1795 show a stone-built, thatched building with the water cascading over an overshot waterwheel.

Bodman, M., 1998, Water-Powered Sites in Devon, 11.1 (Report - non-specific). SDV305931.

Remains of waterhweel still visible.

Watts, S., 2002, Strand Mill (Personal Comment). SDV304720.

The ground floor of the mill now forms part of a tearoom, the upper floor is used as a store. Much of the machinery still remains, including unusual cast iron millstone standards and gear wheels with chevron teeth.

Pink, F., 2014, South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey Desk-Based Assessment (Interpretation). SDV357736.

Bodman, M., 2016, Water Mills and other Water-powered Sites in Devon. Revised edition, 145 (Report - non-specific). SDV359634.

The mill was built in the earlier 18th century and was sketched by Revd. Swete. It was rebuilt in 1825 and ran until 1959, the last owners being the Torbay Mill Company. The wheel and some of the machinery survives.
It was described in an advert in Woolmer's Gazette in 1840 as 'all those capital Water Grist & Flour Mills…'driven by a never failing stream immense power'. The advert also states that it had a susbstantial dwelling house and bakehouse and a large courtyard, garden, stables and sheds adjoining.
The mill suffered a fire in 1910. The report in The Miller records that the large iron water wheel is the largest in the county.
The waterwheel and machinery were described by A. Stoyel in 1964 as being of a most modern design. The wheel is of iron, 30 feet diamter by 30 inches wide and yet drove only two pairs of stones.
The wheel was restored in the late 1990s.

Ordnance Survey, 2026, Mastermap 2026 (Cartographic). SDV366713.

An irregular shaped building.

Watts, S., 2026, Strand Mill, Dawlish (Ground Photograph). SDV366845.

Photo of the exterior of the mill showing the large, pitchback waterwheel.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV12998	Un-published: Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. 1982. Mills Index. Mills Index. A4 Stapled.
SDV304718	Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card: Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division. 1978. SX97NE5. OSAD Card. Card Index + Digital.
SDV304720	Personal Comment: Watts, S.. 2002. Strand Mill. Digital.
SDV305931	Report - non-specific: Bodman, M.. 1998. Water-Powered Sites in Devon. A4 Spiral Bound. 11.1.
SDV341167	Monograph: Swete, J. (ed. Gray T. + Rowe, M.). 1998. Travels in Georgian Devon. The Illustrated Journals of the Reverend John Swete. Vol. 2. Travels in Georgian Devon. The Illustrated Journals of the Reverend John Swete. 2. Hardback Volume. 175-7.
SDV357736	Interpretation: Pink, F.. 2014. South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey Desk-Based Assessment. AC Archaeology Report. ACD618/4/3. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV359634	Report - non-specific: Bodman, M.. 2016. Water Mills and other Water-powered Sites in Devon. Revised edition. A4 Comb Bound. 145.
SDV362710	Monograph: Minchinton, W.. 1973. Industrial Archaeology in Devon. Industrial Archaeology in Devon. 2.
SDV366713	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2026. Mastermap 2026. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital. [Mapped feature: #145589 ]
SDV366845	Ground Photograph: Watts, S.. 2026. Strand Mill, Dawlish. Digital.
	Linked images:1

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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